Baroque Armchairs
The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Baroque Armchairs
Velvet, Wood
18th Century Antique Baroque Armchairs
Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Velvet, Beech
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Marble, Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Marble, Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Marble, Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary American Baroque Armchairs
Oak, Walnut
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Leather, Upholstery, Walnut
1940s Italian Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Velvet
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Teak
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut, Leather
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Teak
Mid-20th Century Hungarian Baroque Armchairs
Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Leather
2010s Brazilian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Teak
Late 18th Century French Antique Baroque Armchairs
Wood, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Armchairs
Velvet
Mid-18th Century Portuguese Antique Baroque Armchairs
Leather, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Armchairs
Velvet